Enterprise Cleared For Deployment After Newport News Rebuild

The Air Department crew aboard the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) completed flight deck certification October 19. The certification, involving multiple tests to prove readiness of the ship and her crew, is required before an aircraft carrier is released for deployment.

According to a Navy press release, the Enterprise Air Department had been preparing for certification since the carrier entered Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard in Virginia more than a year ago.

"From day one in the yards, we start looking at when we come out," said Master Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (AW) Paul Wallace, Air Department's leading chief petty officer. Wallace said that upon arrival at the shipyard, Air Department began tearing apart and rebuilding pumps and catapults and sending airmen to other ships to earn qualifications.

The first step after the AIRLANT inspectors arrived was fuel certification. This involves checking all the fuel equipment, service pumps, and purifiers to make sure they run properly. Also, the inspection team checks to ensure there are no leaks in any tanks below decks.

Enterprise passed its fuel certification Oct. 18.

Next, AIRLANT began to inspect all flight deck personnel records, ensuring they were qualified to perform their specific jobs. "Yellow shirts have to be qualified to move aircraft, tractor drivers and chain and chalk walkers have to be qualified, V-2 has to be qualified to man the catapults," said Wallace.

After all records had been checked, AIRLANT inspectors observed Air Department as it conducted flight operations. The inspection teams also checked all spaces and material conditions, and made sure there was no rust and that PMS (Preventive Maintenance System) procedures were up to date.

The flight operations went well, along with the rest of the flight deck certification process, according to Wallace. "We’re going to pull in with our heads held high. On our first time out after a year of lay-up, we hit it hard and got our flight deck cert. In my opinion, we did it in record time."

"We're back in the game again," said Wallace. "We’re back out here doing the nation’s work again."

The Air Department's next big step is to pass Tailored Ship’s Training Availability (TSTA), in which the ship's crew and the entire air wing will begin working together. "We’re ready for TSTA," Wallace said. “TSTA is going to put us at the top of our game."

FMI: www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn65/